Event-triggered self-sterilization of article surfaces

ABSTRACT

Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact surfaces on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure allows chemical sterilizing agents to controllably flow in response to a contact event, from within the article to exude upon a portion of the contact surface.

BACKGROUND

Diseases and infections can be transmitted by indirect contact. Anycontact surface, which is touched by more than one person, can be atransfer point for harmful germs spreading diseases and infectionsthrough a population. An example is the common cold. A person, who has acold, can leave cold virus behind on a door handle he or she touches. Anon-infected person, who later touches the door handle, can pick up thecold virus from the door handle and catch the same cold.

For certain high risk environments (e.g., restrooms, food service andhealth care facilities), public health programs recommend hand washingor hand rubbing routines for maintaining good hand hygiene to prevent orreduce propagation of communicable diseases and infections. However,time and facilities constraints present are major obstacles tomaintaining good hand hygiene. Many studies of nosocomial infectionsshow that hand washing protocols are not properly followed even byhealth care providers. General compliance rates of health care providerswith hospital-recommended hand washing or hand rubbing protocols arelow. The poor compliance rates have been attributed in part to a lack ofknowledge of when and how to clean or disinfect hands, and in part totime constraints and poor access to hand washing facilities or handrubbing products. (See e.g., Albert R. K., Condie F., NEJM 1981;304(24):1465-6).

The time and facilities constraints that impede good hand hygiene inhospital environments are even more severe obstacles for achieving goodhand hygiene in other public environments. For example, it is notpractical to provide hand washing facilities at every door knob orentrance in a working office building, or at every turnstile or contactsurface in a bus or train terminal. Further, even where hand washingfacilities are provided (e.g., in restrooms), hand washing can becounterproductive. A person, after washing hands, could pick up germs byturning a water faucet handle off, or touching a restroom exit doorhandle.

Consideration is now being given to other solutions for limiting theundesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact. Some such solutionsmay avoid, for example, the time and facilities constraints that hindersolutions that rely on voluntary hand washing by individuals.

SUMMARY

Approaches to limiting the spread of pathogens, for example, by indirectcontact are provided. One approach utilizes self-sterilizing contactsurface structures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure may bedisposed on any article, fixture or substrate in any environment, whichcan be touched by a person.

In one approach, the self-sterilizing contact surface structure includesan exterior contact surface, which can be touched, and an interiorchemical flow-conductive region which is contiguous to the exteriorcontact surface. The self-sterilizing contact surface structure isconfigured so that a sterilizing chemical agent can be controllablytransconducted across the interior chemical flow-conductive region on toat least a portion of the exterior contact surface. The self-sterilizingcontact surface structure includes egress ports or openings throughwhich transconducted sterilizing chemical agent can exude on to theexterior contact surface. The flow of the sterilizing chemical agent tothe exterior contact surface can be triggered by specific events (e.g.,contact, imminent contact, or lapse of time).

The self-sterilizing contact surface structure may include one or moresensors (e.g., contact sensor, a proximity sensor, or a chemical sensor)which are configured to detect if a contact has occurred or is likely,or if biomaterials are present on the exterior contact surface. Further,the structure may include, or be coupled to, control elements thatcontrol, time or regulate the flow of the sterilizing chemical agent onto the contact surface in response to events. The control elements mayact in response to, for example, sensor information, contact surfaceactivity, and/or other control signals. Additionally, the structure mayinclude, or be coupled to, a power source/receiver, which providesenergy for the controlled flow of the sterilizing chemical agent. Likethe control elements, the power source/receiver may be responsive tosensor information, contact surface activity, and/or control signals. Acontact surface status indicator coupled to the structure may display asterilization condition or state of the contact surface to users.Similarly, a refill indicator coupled to the structure may display arefill state of the sterilizing chemical supply.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to belimiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, andfeatures described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features ofthe solutions will become apparent by reference to the drawings and thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of exemplary self-sterilizingarticles or fixtures, which have contact surfaces that areself-sterilized to prevent or reduce the spread of communicable diseasesand infections by indirect contact, in accordance with the principles ofthe solutions described herein;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system fordispensing sterilizing agent in an article or fixture having aself-sterilizing contact surface, in accordance with the principles ofthe solutions described herein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the self-sterilizing contactsurface of FIG. 1, in accordance with the principles of the solutionsdescribed herein;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement of exemplarycontrol elements that control or regulate flow of a sterilizing chemicalto the self-sterilizing contact surface of FIGS. 1-3, in accordance withthe principles of the solutions described herein; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary methods forinhibiting the spread of germs by indirect contact, in accordance withthe principles of the solutions described herein.

Throughout the figures, unless otherwise stated, the same referencenumerals and characters are used to denote like features, elements,components, or portions of the illustrated embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

In the following description of exemplary embodiments, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. It will beunderstood that embodiments described herein are exemplary, but are notmeant to be limiting. Further, it will be appreciated that the solutionsdescribed herein can be practiced or implemented by other than thedescribed embodiments. Modified embodiments or alternate embodiments maybe utilized, in the spirit and scope of the solutions described herein.

FIGS. 1-4 show exemplary self-sterilizing articles 100, each having anarticle body 120 with a contact surface 101 disposed thereon. Exemplaryarticles 100, as shown for purposes of illustration in FIG. 1, are doorhandles having particular shapes. Article 100 may, however, be anydevice or fixture of any shape having one or more surfaces that can betouched or contacted in use. Article 100 may, for example, be a handle,a hand rail, a seat, a key board, a switch, a button, a knob, a computermouse or control device, a desktop, a bathroom or kitchen or otherworking surface, a bus seat, a gymnasium apparatus or fixture, arestaurant booth or seat, a toy, a headphone, a telephone, an automaticteller machine, a vending machine, a shopping cart, a household deviceor fixture, a building device or fixture, an industrial device orfixture, a transport vehicle device or fixture, a medical device orfixture, or any other device or fixture whose contact surfaces are sitesfor potential transfer of undesirable pathogens amongst users.

With reference to FIG. 2, self-sterilizing article 100 is coupled to achemical dispenser system 103, which is arranged to controllablydispense or deliver a chemical 104 on to contact surface 101 from withinbody 120. Chemical 104 may, for example, be a sterilizing chemical,which reduces or kills pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, or germs),which may be present on contact surface 101. Suitable sterilizingchemicals 104 may, for example, include one or more of inorganic ororganic compounds, oxidizers, halogens, alcohols, amine- orhypochlorite-based chemicals, or any other germicidal chemicals orcompounds. Chemical 104 may be dispensed in any suitable physical state(e.g., solid, gas, liquid or gel). Preferably, sterilizing chemical 104is such that it vaporizes or sublimes from contact surface 101 afterdelivery without leaving behind any substantial residues.

Pre-prepared chemical 104, which is ready for dispensing, may beobtained from a chemical reservoir 105. Alternatively, chemical 104 maybe prepared in situ, for example, in a chemical generator 106. Forexample, chemical 104 may be chlorine gas, or liquid bleach prepared byself-liquefaction of a mixture of calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)₂) lacedwith calcium chloride (CaCl₂) in chemical generator 106 (e.g., undercontact-induced pressure).

In operation, controlled amounts of chemical 104 are dispensed ordelivered by chemical dispenser system 103 onto contact surface 101 fromwithin article 100. For this purpose, chemical dispenser system 103 mayinclude, or be linked to a source of chemical 104 (e.g., reservoir105/generator 106). The chemical source may be internal to article100/body 120, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Alternatively, thechemical source of chemical 104 may be external to article 100/body 120,as shown for example, in FIG. 4. Thus, in the example of a building doorhandle article, the chemical source may be placed in the door handleitself, the door, or any other part of the building structure.

In any case, suitable conductive passageways or channels 115 that crossinterface region 102 guide a flow of chemical 104 obtained from thechemical source onto contact surface 101, which has suitable surfaceports or openings 115′ for egress of chemical 104. Surface ports oropenings 115′ may be distributed over the entire area of contact surface101. Alternatively, contact surface 101 may be patterned so that surfaceports or openings 115′ are present only in select regions (e.g., regions116A-C) while other regions (e.g., region 117) are free of such ports oropenings (see FIG. 3).

Embodiments of chemical dispenser system 103 may include, oroperationally interface with, one or more other electrical and/ormechanical components configured to recognize and respond to events, andcontrol the flow of chemical 104. For example, chemical dispenser system103 may optionally include a controller 107, a pumping mechanism 108, asensor 109, a status/refill indicator 110, a timer 111, a counter 112, apower source/receiver 113, and/or a programmable interface 114. Likechemical reservoir 105 described above, each of these optionalcomponents may be disposed either inside or outside article 100 (seeFIG. 4).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the flow of chemical 104 across theinterface 102 onto contact surface 101 is driven by pumping orregulating mechanism 108. Pumping mechanism 108 may, for example, be anelectromechanical pump. Alternative versions of pumping mechanism 108may, for example, include elasticity- or strain-, mechanical-,pressure-, temperature-, surface tension-, osmotic pressure-, and/orgravity-actuated prime movers.

Suitable energy or power for operating pumping mechanism 108 may beobtained from an internal or external power source/receiver 113 (e.g., adry cell or a wound spring or resonant inductive power receptioncircuitry). Further, operation or movement of article 100 itself may beutilized to generate energy or power for driving pumping mechanism 108or other components of chemical dispenser system 103. For example,contact-induced pressure and/or contact-induced temperature may beutilized to drive or regulate the flow of chemical 104 (e.g., using apressure- or temperature-activated flow switch).

Additionally or alternatively, article 100 may be coupled to an energy-or power-generating mechanism (e.g., generator 116). Generator 116 may,for example, couple mechanical movement of article 100 (e.g., turning ofa door handle, or opening of a door) to drive pumping mechanism 108directly. For this purpose, generator 116 may include any suitablemechanical coupling arrangement (e.g., levers and springs).Alternatively, generator 116 may be configured to convert mechanicalmovement of article 100 into storable elastic, electrical or otherenergy. Generator 116 may include any suitable mechanical and/orelectromechanical converter arrangements (e.g., springs, coils,inductors, and magnets) for this purpose. The energy generated in thismanner by generator 116 may be used either directly to drive pumpingmechanism 108, or stored for later use (e.g., in power source/receiver113).

Chemical dispensing system 103 including pumping mechanism 108 mayinclude flow-regulating features (e.g., pressure-activated flowswitches, and orifices and channels having predetermined flow-impedance)to control timing and delivery amounts of chemical 104 to contactsurface 101. More generally, the operation of chemical dispensing system103 may be supervised by a control device or system.

Chemical dispensing system 103 also may include, or be coupled to, aused chemical recovery or disposal system that is arranged to collectresidual chemicals from contact surface 101. An exemplary used chemicalrecovery/disposal system may include a used-chemical reservoir 118,which is gravity-fed. Another exemplary used chemical recovery/disposalsystem may include a heater arrangement (not shown) to vaporize residualchemicals from contact surface 101.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary controller 107 configured to superviseoperation of chemical dispensing system 103. Controller 107 may have anysuitable mechanical or electromechanical structure, and include anoptional programmable interface 114. In operation, controller 107 maycontrol timing and amounts of chemical 104 delivered to contact surface101 in response to one or more event-triggered control signals. Theevent-triggered control signals may be generated by one or more controlelements. The control elements may, for example, include one or more ofsensor 109, timer 111, counter 112, or a user-activated switch (notshown). As noted previously, each of these control elements may bedisposed either inside or outside article 100.

Sensor 109 may be a contact sensor which is configured to determine if acontact has been made to contact surface 101 and to accordingly generatea control signal to activate chemical dispenser system 103 directly, orvia controller 107, to provide chemical 104 across interface region 102.The contact sensor may, for example, be any of a capacitive, aresistive, a thermal, a mechanical, a piezoelectric, an ultrasonic, anelectromagnetic, or an optical sensor.

Additionally or alternatively, sensor 109 may be a proximity sensorarranged to determine if a contact to contact surface 101 is likely, andto accordingly generate a control signal to activate chemical dispensersystem 103 directly, or via controller 107, to provide chemical 104across interface region 102. Like the contact sensor, the proximitysensor may, for example, be any of a capacitive, a resistive, a thermal,a mechanical, a piezoelectric, an ultrasonic, an electromagnetic, or anoptical sensor.

Further, sensor 109 may be a bio- or chemical sensor arranged todetermine a presence of biological materials (e.g., sweat, lipids, etc.)on contact surface 101, and to accordingly generate a control signal toactivate chemical dispenser system 103 directly, or via controller 107,to provide chemical 104 across interface region 102.

FIGS. 2 and 4, for visual clarity, show a solitary sensor 109. However,it will be understood that any suitable numbers of sensors of varioustypes may be deployed. Further, the sensor(s) may be configured toidentify particular portions or sub regions of contact surface 101 ofinterest, and to accordingly activate dispenser system 103 directly, orvia controller 107, to provide chemical 104 across interface region 102only to those particular portions or subregions if so desired. Forexample, sensor 109, in addition to determining if a contact is made,may be further configured to determine a location of contact. Withreference to FIG. 3, such a sensor 109 may, for example, determine thatonly subregion 116B of contact surface 101 has been contacted ortouched. Accordingly, chemical dispenser system 103 may be activated toprovide chemical 104 only to subregion 116B, if so desired.Alternatively, chemical dispenser system 103 may be activated to providechemical 104 to all subregions 116A-C of contact surface 101 even thoughonly subregion 116B has been contacted or touched.

Control elements such as timer 111 or counter 112 also may generatealternate or additional event-triggered control signals to activatechemical dispenser system 103 only at certain times and/or only forparticular durations. For example, counter 112, which may be an indexedor resettable counter, may count a number of contacts made, and activatechemical dispenser system 103 to provide chemical 104 each time thecounted number equals or exceeds a predetermined number. Similarly,controller 107 may be coupled to timer 111, which clocks or times theprovision of chemical 104 across interface 102. Controller 107 may befurther configured to respond to various sensor signals so thatprovision of chemical 104 across interface 102 begins a predeterminedtime interval after a contact is made, before a contact is made, orduring a contact. In any case, the provision of chemical 104 may becontinuous for a predetermined time interval after a triggering event.

Alternatively or additionally, controller 107 may be further configuredto control provision of chemical 104 across interface 102 according topredetermined schedules. A predetermined schedule may be independent ofthe state or condition of contact surface 101. For example, apredetermined schedule may ask for chemical 104 to be released every tenminutes, independent of the number of contacts made in the interim.Alternative predetermined schedules may be flexible or adjustable totake into consideration events, including without limitation, eventspotentially affecting contact surface 101. For example, chemical 104 maybe scheduled to be routinely released every ten minutes, but theschedule may be advanced or supplemented if a number of contacts made inthe interim exceeds three. Similarly, timing or amount of release ofchemical 104 may be responsive to a number of persons in a regionproximate the contact surface 101 or to other environmental events (e.g.changes in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) operationin the area or building). Moreover, the schedule, amount, or otheraspects of release of chemical 104 may be controlled by controller 107or other controller systems that may be located nearby or distant fromcontact surface 101. In one approach, for example, the schedule, amount,or other aspects of release of the sterilizing chemical 104 may becontrolled through a remote control system in a different building orfacility, for example, through wireless, wired, IP protocol or otherapproaches.

The predetermined schedules and the responses of chemical dispensingsystem 103/controller 107 to various control signals may be set up orprogrammed by a user, for example, through programmable interface 114.

Article 100 also may include an optional status indicator 110, which isconfigured to indicate a state of the contact surface and/or chemicaldispensing system 103. Status indicator 110 may, for example, include aset of red, yellow and green color light emitting diodes correspondingto various sterilization states of contact surface as determined by oneor more sensors or control elements. Other versions of status indicator110 may include other visual, audio, RF or electromagnetic and/ortactile displays of the contact surface state. Similarly, the same oranother status/refill indicator 110 may display a state of chemicaldispensing system 103 (e.g., refill state of a chemical reservoir).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show exemplary features of methods for inhibiting germtransmission from contact surfaces. The methods involveself-sterilization of the contact surfaces.

FIG. 5 shows a method 500 for sterilizing an exterior contact surfacedisposed on an article, which includes a subsurface or interior regionadjacent or contiguous to the exterior contact surface. Method 500includes: in response to an event, controllably transconducting asterilizing chemical agent from within the article to a portion of theexterior contact surface through an interior region contiguous to theexterior contact surface (520). The controllable flow is initiated,sustained or terminated, in response to receiving at least one of acontact sensor, a proximity sensor, or a timing sensor signal (510).Method 500 also optionally includes displaying or indicating a status ofthe contact surface (530).

FIG. 6 shows another method 600 for sterilizing an exterior contactsurface disposed on an article body. Method 600 includes determining astate of the contact surface (610), and in response, controllablyproviding a sterilizing chemical agent from within the article bodyacross an interface between the article body and the contact surface(620). At least a portion of the contact surface is sterilized by actionof the sterilizing chemical agent provided from within the article body.

In method 600, determining a state of the contact surface (610) manyinclude determining if a contact has been made to the contact surface,or is likely to be made. Any suitable contact or proximity sensor may beused for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, determining astate of the contact surface (610) may involve determining if biologicalmaterials are present on the contact surface by deploying a bio- orchemical sensor.

Further, in method 600, controllably providing a sterilizing chemicalagent from within the article body across an interface between thearticle body and the contact surface (620) may include flowing thesterilizing chemical agent across the interface through pores orchannels in the interface and out through ports or openings in thecontact surface. The provision of the sterilizing chemical agent mayoccur according to a programmed routine or a predetermined scheduleControllably providing a sterilizing chemical agent from within thearticle body across the interface may include timing of the provision ofthe sterilizing chemical across the interface, providing the sterilizingchemical agent a predetermined time interval before, during or after acontact is made, providing the sterilizing chemical agent after apredetermined number of contacts, and/or providing the sterilizingchemical agent continuously for a predetermined time interval.

The flow of the sterilizing chemical agent across the interface, inmethod 600, may be driven by pressure, temperature, surface tension,gravity, a contact-induced pressure or temperature, and/or a pumpingdevice. Contact-actuated power may be utilized to controllably move thesterilizing chemical across the interface. The contact-actuated powermay be generated by a movable mechanism, for example, apressure-activated mechanism. Method 600 may further include storingcontact-actuated power to controllably move the sterilizing chemicalacross the interface at a later time.

Further, method 600 may include supplying the sterilizing chemical agentfrom an internal chemical supply reservoir, generating the sterilizingchemical agent internally in the article, recovering residual chemicalsfrom the contact surface, and/or storing recovered residual chemicals ina used-chemical reservoir. The controllably provided sterilizingchemical agent may be a chemical which vaporizes at the contact surface,an amine- or hypochlorite-based chemical, an oxidizer, and/or analcohol.

Like method 500, method 600 also optionally includes displaying orindicating a status of the contact surface. The display may be audio,visual, tactile or any combination thereof.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.For example, controlled amounts of sterilizing chemical 104 may bedispensed onto contact surface 101 from within article 100, not merelyin response to a sterilization state or condition of the contactsurface, but additionally or alternatively in response to movement ororientation of article 100 or portions thereof. Thus, a door knob may beself-sterilized in response to a door closing motion similarly, a toothbrush may be self-sterilized after it is picked up. A key may beself-sterilized after it is held in horizontal orientation as in a lockkeyhole. Similarly, the tooth brush may be self-sterilized after it isplaced vertically in a tooth-brush stand.

It will be understood that the various aspects and embodiments disclosedherein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to belimiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by thefollowing claims.

1. A self-sterilizing article, comprising: an article body; a contactsurface disposed thereon; and a chemical dispenser arranged tocontrollably provide a sterilizing chemical to the contact surface fromwithin the article body across an interface between the article body andthe contact surface disposed thereon; and a resettable counterconfigured to count a number of contacts and to activate the chemicaldispenser to provide the chemical across the interface when the numberof contacts exceeds a predetermined number.
 2. The article of claim 1,configured as any one of a handle, a knob, a seat, a key board, aswitch, a button, a computer mouse or control device, a desktop, akitchen or bathroom surface, a working surface, a bus seat, a gymnasiumequipment, a restaurant booth, a toy, a headphone, a telephone, anautomatic teller machine, a vending machine, and a shopping cart.
 3. Thearticle of claim 1, claim 1, further comprising, a contact sensorconfigured to determine if a contact has been made to the contactsurface and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser to providethe chemical across the interface.
 4. The article of claim 3, wherein inthe contact sensor is any one of a capacitive, a resistive, amechanical, a piezoelectric, a thermal, an ultrasonic, or an opticalsensor.
 5. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a proximitysensor configured to determine if a contact to the contact surface isimminent and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser to providethe chemical across the interface.
 6. The article of claim 5, wherein inthe proximity sensor is any one of a capacitive, a resistive, amechanical, a piezoelectric, a thermal, an ultrasonic, or an opticalsensor.
 7. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a chemical sensorconfigured to determine a presence of biological materials on thecontact surface and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser toprovide the chemical across the interface.
 8. The article of claim 1,further comprising, a programmable mechanism configured to controlprovision of the chemical across the interface according to a programroutine.
 9. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a user-activatedswitch configured to control provision of the chemical across theinterface according to a user command.
 10. The article of claim 1,further comprising, a controller configured to control provision of thechemical across the interface according to a predetermined schedule. 11.The article of claim 1, further comprising, a timer configured to timethe provision of the chemical across the interface.
 12. The article ofclaim 1, which is further configured to provide the chemical across theinterface a predetermined time interval after a previous provision. 13.The article of claim 1, which is further configured to provide thechemical across the interface a predetermined time interval after acontact has been made.
 14. The article of claim 1, which is furtherconfigured to begin providing the chemical before a contact is made. 15.The article of claim 1, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured tobegin providing the chemical across the interface during a contact. 16.The article of claim 1, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured toprovide the chemical across the interface continuously for apredetermined time interval.
 17. The article of claim 1, furthercomprising, an internal chemical supply reservoir, wherein the internalchemical supply reservoir is enclosed in the article body.
 18. Thearticle of claim 1, further comprising, an internal chemical generator.19. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a chemical recoverysystem arranged to collect residual chemicals from the contact surface,wherein the chemical recovery system is distinct from the chemicaldispenser.
 20. The article of claim 19, wherein the chemical recoverysystem comprises a used-chemical reservoir.
 21. The article of claim 1,further configured to dispense a chemical which vaporizes at the contactsurface.
 22. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispense achemical which is an amine- or hypochlorite-based chemical.
 23. Thearticle of claim 1, further configured to dispense a chemical which isan oxidizer.
 24. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispensea chemical which is an alcohol.
 25. The article of claim 1, wherein theinterface comprises pores or channels suitable for flow of the chemicalacross the interface.
 26. The article of claim 25, wherein the contactsurface comprises ports or openings for egress of the chemical on to thecontact surface.
 27. The article of claim 26, wherein the contactsurface comprises an impenetrable portion that is devoid of ports oropenings for egress of the chemical on to the contact surface but isprovided with the sterilizing chemical by surface flow from anpenetrable portion.
 28. The article of claim 1, further configured todrive a flow of the chemical across the interface with a pressuregradient.
 29. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flowof the chemical across the interface with a temperature gradient. 30.The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of thechemical across the interface with surface tension.
 31. The article ofclaim 1, further configured to drive a gravity-flow across the interfaceof the chemical from the chemical dispenser within the article body tothe contact surface.
 32. The article of claim 1, further configured todrive a flow of the chemical from the chemical dispenser across theinterface to the contact surface with a contact-induced pressure. 33.The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of thechemical across the interface with a contact-induced temperature. 34.The article of claim 1, further comprising a pumping device configuredto drive a flow of the chemical across the interface.
 35. The article ofclaim 1, further comprising, a contact-actuated power-generatingmechanism configured to provide energy for controllably moving thechemical from within the article body across the interface.
 36. Thearticle of claim 35, wherein the contact-actuated power-generatingmechanism is a movable mechanism.
 37. The article of claim 35, whereinthe contact-actuated power-generating mechanism is a pressure activatedmechanism.
 38. The article of claim 35, further comprising, an energystorage device configured to store power generated by thepower-generating mechanism.
 39. The article of claim 1, furthercomprising, an energy source and/or an energy receiving device.
 40. Thearticle of claim 1, further comprising, a status indicator configured toindicate a sterilization state of the contact surface.
 41. The articleof claim 40, wherein the status indicator is further configured toprovide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visualdisplay of the sterilization state of the contact surface.
 42. Thearticle of claim 1, further comprising, a refill indicator configured toindicate a state of the chemical dispenser.
 43. The article of claim 42,wherein the refill indicator is further configured to provide at leastone of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the stateof the chemical dispenser.